Mail-box.



J. OSTA-CHOWSKI.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I9,I9I4.

Patented May 25, 1915.

gmc/M301 THE NORRIS PETERS CD., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

JULIAN OSTACHOWSKI, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BOX.

madera.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application led October 19, 1914. Serial No. 867,351.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JULIAN OsrAoHowsxi, subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Bualo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mail boxes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mail box in which the mail matter may be inserted when desired but is rendered incapable of being removed by any unauthorized person.

A further object is to provide a combined mail feeder and slot guard occupying the upper portion of the mail box inwardly of the mail entrance slot and whereby the mail is fed in small quantities from the slot to the mail receptacle and any returning of the mail from the receptacle to the slot is rendered impossible.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like-designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with a portion of the casing broken away, a portion thereof and of the revoluble guard being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device partially shown in central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the device adjacent one end thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken upon a plane adjacent the other end of the device, the same however being shown partially in elevation, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view of a portion of the device taken upon the line of the guard axle and of the actuator.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the mail box 10 is shown of substantially the usual external appearance having one curved or rear wall 11 and a mail entrance slot 12 provided in the forward wall which has a hinged closure door 13 provided therefor.

A cylinder 14 is provided with a central longitudinal axle 15 journaled in the opposite ends of the box and has opposite end disks 16 positioned adjacent the opposite end walls 17 of the box. The cylinder is provided with longitudinally positioned non-radial blades 18 spaced apart and connecting the disks 16 and adapted to lie with the opening between the adjacent blades directly rearwardly and inwardly of the entra-nce slot 12 for allowing mail to be supported by the cylinder. One of the end disks 16 is provided on its outer face with radially arranged grooves or recesses 19 which are substantially V-shaped in form tapering toward the axle 15 and decreasing in depth toward their pointed ends. A plunger 2O normally projected by the spring 21 is slidably mounted in a perforated boss 22 of the front wall of the casing and has an inner hook 23 upon its inner end adapted to engage the recesses 19. The end wall 17 of the box is provided with a horizontally positioned guide member 24 having a slot 25 therein for accommodating the plunger 20 and directing its movement in a horizontal line. A ratchet wheel 26 having notches 27 is positioned upon the axle 15 adjacent the outer face of the opposite disk 16 and a pawl 28 is pivoted to the box end and is adapted to enter the notches 27 of the ratchet wheel and is spring pressed by the leaf spring 29, secured to said end.

The complete operation of the device will be apparent from the present detailed description thereof. rlhe mail matter being placed through the entrance slot 12 is received on the cylinder 14 between the blades 18 and the disks 16 as best illustrated in Fig. 2 and thereupon the plunger 20 is forced inwardly by the hand of the operator and moving in a horizontal line forces the hook 23 slidably against the rear wall of one of the recesses 19 which action thereby forces the cylinder to revolve a partial revolution, being substantially a quarter turn whereupon the pawl 28 enters the succeeding one of the notches 27 which prevents any reverse rotation while the hook rides out of the engaged recess at the shallow pointed end thereof and returns along the unbroken face of the disk under the action of the spring 21, the diameter of the perforation of the boss 22 being such as to allow suiiicient play for this movement of the plunger. It will be seen that the mail receiving cylinder may thus be revolved by the plunger 20 in a stepfrom the receptacle is completely prevented as the cylinder 14: entirely obstructslanyfoutward movement of the mail matter to the slotr l2,fwhile the -pawl and ratchet wheel prevent any reversal lof the revolutions of the cylinder. The receptacle however is provided with an exit door 31 in the usual manf=ner.`

`While the Vforms ofr the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be the ypreferred embodiments thereof, it

is nevertheless to.y be understood that minor l'changes may-be ymade'v therein without ldepartingl f-rom the spirit and scope of the linvention las vset forth inthe claims.

`What I claim as new is '1. A device ofl the class described,- com-l iprising a box having a mail entrance slot y adjacent the top thereof, a cylinder `hori- -zontally jouriialed for revolution within i the ysaid boX, .projecting end. disks :atv the opposite ends ofthe cylinder slightly spaced from .the `end walls of the box, non-radial 30,

blades.- projecting from the cylinder .and connectingI the `disks .thereof and forming pocketsv` between the adjacent yblades and disks, one of said disks having V-shaped radial recesses'son its outer side decreasing in depth:y toward their pointed ends, a plunger slidably mounted through the vfrontv wall of the box and having a hooked inner end y adapted to engage the said recesses, a hori- Zontally Apositioned slotted guide carried by A.the boX and having said plunger positioned therein, and a pawl and ratchet means for said cylinder' preventing rearward movement thereof.

.'2..A.:.device ofthe class described, com-l prising a boX having a mail entrance slot, a cylindrical feeder horizontally )ournaled Vwithin the boX,-there being spaced recesses `formed in oneend wall lof the feeder, a reciprocating plunger carrying a hook adapted'to -be receivedfin said recesses, and means foi-'preventing retrograde movement of the feeder, said recesses being formedwhereby the hook carried by the plunger may be read- -ily disengaged from said recesses.

3. A device of the class` described comprising a box having a vmail entrancevslot'adjacent the upper end thereof, va cylindrical feeder horizontally j ournaled within the said box and :having aimail receiving pocket formed therein, spaced recesses. having inclinedbottom -walls formed in one end wall of said feeder, a reciprocating plunger operatively received insaid recesses, and pawl f and ratchet. stop meansat the opposite'end 'of the cylinder rfrom thesaid plunger 4to prevent retrograde movement of the feeder.

Inf testimony-r whereofk I aiiX- my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIAN OSTAGHOWSKI.

IWtn'esses: v f e s Y ANDRsni GELANsKI, Josnr KAWKA.

Goldes;of;;this'-patent may. bembtanedfor-s ve centseeachby,addressing the Commissionerzcatents,

y'Washington;ID. C. 

